Think Big and Shop Small in Boulder

I don’t know about you, but this holiday season cannot come fast enough for me this year. I’m yearning for twinkling lights outlining homes and bright ornaments festooning pine trees. I want the warmth and cheer that the holidays bring after an exhausting, intense October and November.

I know I’m fortunate to be surrounded and supported by friends and family during this season and it makes me want to support others in any way I can. That’s why I’m a huge proponent of shopping local during the holidays.

Of course, after there’s Black Friday, there’s always Small Business Saturday, but I think you can be supporting your local artisans any day of the week. Here’s a guide to get you started. This is by no means extensive, because there are so many amazing locally owned shops in Boulder.

For the shopper on a budget

Coming from a family with four siblings, two sets of parents, two “in-laws”, three nieces, and a nephew, holiday shopping for everyone on my list is no easy task and can easily break the bank, which is why we are all frequent shoppers at a number of thrift stores. I am always able to check quite a few people off the list and on occasion, I may or may not pick up something extra for myself as well.

Another great way to save some scratch is to shop used bookstores. Boulder staples such as the Trident Café and Bookstore and Boulder Bookstore sell both new and used books, so you can browse some secondhand classics and pick up a few new finds as well.

For stocking stuffers

Stockings are a big deal in my family. I know they may not be every family cup of tea, but we all enjoy filling up our family members’ stockings with random finds from the year and there are a couple places in Boulder where a great find is a sure things.

First up, Bliss is one of my favorite stores in Boulder. I could spend several hours in their cards section alone. They also have a wonderful selection of jewelry, home goods, and funny gifts. I never leave Bliss empty handed.

For a more playful selection of goodies, I can’t recommend Into the Wind enough. For over 35 years, this store has not only sold kites (that is its bread and butter though), it’s full of games and scientific projects for kids and grown ups alike. It’s a perfect place to shop for something the will bring the entire family together.

For the home chefs, you cannot go wrong with a few well-chosen stocking stuffers from Peppercorn on Pearl Street Mall. While it was originally a cooking school with just a small selection of gourmet cooking utensils, Peppercorn has grown into a massive presence on the mall.

For the one stop shopper

If you’re the type of person who likes to get your shopping done in one trip, I think what you are in need of is a holiday market. Luckily, there are several in Boulder in the coming month that will provide you with a wealth of vendors to buy from.

The Firefly Market on Twenty Ninth Street takes place on December 10 through 11 and features over 100 different artists as well as food, drink, and music. The Boulder County Farmer’s Market has a Winter Market on December 3 and 4 with 60 local vendors at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. The 11th Annual Boulder Holiday Gift Festival is on December 11 at the YMCA of Boulder Valley.

Also, it’s not in Boulder, but I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about the Denver Holiday Flea, which has over 200 vendors and runs December 2-4 at the Sports Castle. I know it’s a drive, but it is well worth it.

Like I said at the beginning, I’ve only just scratched the surface for amazing local artists and businesses and I didn’t even sing the praises of Etsy local. If you have a favorite business that you think would be perfect for YourBoulder readers, send us an email and let us know!

About Kelly Tidd

Unicorn lover and player hater. Total adventure junkie. Kelly Tidd has been a writer for most of her "adult" life and a freelance writer for three years. She focuses on blogging and website content optimization (a fancy way for saying she makes SEO copy look pretty).